The aim of this training course is to engage participants in reflecting on and discussing various strategies, methods, and best practices aimed at fostering inclusion in the classroom. At the heart of this training lie three key concepts: empathy, cooperation, and membership. These elements serve as the pillars of inclusive education, emphasizing the importance of understanding, collaboration, and a sense of belonging within the learning environment. The new edition of the course “Special needs and inclusive education, the Italian experience of overcoming segregation” took place in Palermo from 10/03/2024 to 16/03/2024. The participants came from Serbia with Julija, Dragana, Nebojsa, Tijana, Vinka, Danijela, Tanja and Jelena from elementary school ‘‘Vuk Karadzic’’ . The course began by acknowledging the importance of inclusion in the classroom. Participants engaged in icebreaker activities and discussed their expectations and contributions. The main focus of the first day was to explore what inclusion means in education. We investigated the differences between inclusion, segregation, integration, and exclusion. Additionally, we explored the concept of special educational needs and emphasized the importance of having all students belong in a mainstream classroom and school, allowing learners with disabilities (whether visible or hidden) to learn alongside their peers. Finally, the group presented their school. On the second day, we explored the Italian Model, presenting Inclusive education in Italy and the Italian approach. The group investigated “Membership” as the sense of “feeling to belong to a group” and of perceiving how your contribution could be meaningful for others. This sense of belonging is crucial for creating a welcoming environment that fosters learning. We then shifted our focus to “Empathy” as the foundation for building relationships between teachers, pupils, and families. Empathy involves taking the perspective of others, being non-judgmental, and understanding another person’s feelings. On the third day, participants learned about the concept of mindset and explored various skills and mindsets. The group became familiar with Growth Mindset Language, aiming to foster a safe and stimulating environment for all students. Additionally, they engaged in practical sessions where they experimented with innovative teaching methods using ICT tools like Bamboozle, Quizlet, Lucidspark, and Magic Schools. These tools highlighted the importance and benefits of incorporating ICT into education, especially for students with diverse abilities. Participants also collaborated to create games for classroom use, enhancing their proficiency with ICT tools and nurturing creativity in the process. On the fourth day, teachers had the opportunity to visit a local school: ‘’I Circolo Didattico Giuseppe Bagnera’’, a preschool and primary school in Bagheria. During the visit, the group exchanged best practices with local teachers, gained insights into the methods and theories covered throughout the course and experienced firsthand the ‘’Italian Model’’ in action. On the final day, participants gained knowledge on strategies for involving families, learned about the Jigsaw method, and explored Specific Learning Disorders. Moreover, they were introduced to Immersive Reader, a tool designed to aid with reading and comprehension by enhancing text focus and readability across various documents. Additionally, participants gained insights into creating inclusive school materials such as maps using software like Word and Canva. They also learned other innovative teaching tools like Genially, Learning Apps and Mentimeter. During the course, we explored the peculiarities of the “Italian Model”, one of the few examples of inclusive education. This model is based on the principle of not having special schools, and embraces the idea to “include” everyone in the same system, counting on the support of special figures like Support Teachers and Educators. The networking activities among the participating teachers during the course were undeniably the most enriching moments of the week. These sessions provided a platform for exchanging viewpoints, sharing models and methods, engaging in group discussions, and mutually enriching one another’s perspectives. The group learned new tools and approaches with the aim of promoting continuous improvement.
What better way to conclude than by expressing gratitude to all the participants whose interest and dedication made this course enriching. We hope to see you soon! Discover more about this course here. During the recent session of the workshop "Coaching skills for teachers, school and adult education staff," held in Tenerife from 10/03/2024 to 16/03/2024. Educators from various European institutions convened to explore innovative approaches to teaching and mentoring. Participants hailed from diverse backgrounds, including Antonia and Barbara from Carnet - Croatian academic and research network in Croatia, Ruta from Vilnius University in Lithuania, Marleen, Monique and Annelies from Mendelcollege in the Netherlands, Lina and Christine from Vuxenutbildningen i Partille in Sweden, Agnieszka from Stowarzyszenie biuro Osblugi Ruchiu Inicjatyw spolecznych Boris in Poland, Jana and Heili from Tallinna Ehituskool in Estonia, Paula, Vanessa, Carmo and Sao from Escola secundária Jaime Moniz in Portugal The workshop started with a deep look at Emotional Intelligence, stressing how it helps build connections and empathy in education. Educators were urged to understand their own emotions and empathy to better support their students' emotional needs. Taking cues from coaching, participants learned about setting SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound objectives. Clear goals empower students to aim for success and personal development. Conflict management was also highlighted, emphasizing self-control and effective communication in solving disagreements. Rather than seeing conflicts as purely negative, educators were encouraged to encourage dialogue and help students find solutions together, boosting resilience and conflict resolution skills. Conflict management emerged as another pivotal focus area, highlighting the importance of self-regulation and constructive communication in resolving disputes. Rather than viewing conflicts as inherently negative, educators were encouraged to facilitate dialogue and guide students towards mutually beneficial solutions, fostering resilience and conflict resolution skills. Central to the workshop was the exploration of the transformative power of questioning techniques. Educators learned to harness the potential of thought-provoking inquiries to stimulate critical thinking, self-reflection, and creativity among students. By adopting a solution-focused approach, educators can inspire students to adopt proactive mindsets and cultivate resilience in the face of challenges. Overall, the workshop provided educators with practical strategies to integrate coaching principles into their teaching practices, promoting emotional intelligence, goal-setting, conflict resolution, and critical thinking skills among students.
Discover more about this course here. "The Impactful Role of Trekking in Human Development Across History and Today: Exploring the Cognitive, Behavioral, and Emotional Benefits of Hiking in Natural and Urban Environments. Additionally, Investigating How Trekking Education Integrates Effective Learning with Environmental Conservation Amidst Climate Change Challenges." |
Welcome to the ELA Blog. Here you will find articles and photos of our courses and have a look at the topics addressed during the week in Bologna, Palermo and Tenerife. You will also have the chance to take a peek at our projects and check out what we have been up to.
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